A Trial in Prague

Illuminating interviews with widows and children of Jews executed in the Stalinist purges of 1952—and with a witness for the prosecution who was incarcerated and tortured for his testimony—make the archival footage in this 2000 documentary eerie with subtext. But classic suspense music and inserts that are absurdly literal or absurdly symbolic distort the tone. Written and directed by Zuzana Justman. 83 min. (LA) In Czech and French with subtitles.
ByLisa Alspector